Detection of novel chlamydiae in cats with ocular disease     

von Bomhard W  Polkinghorne A  Lu ZH  Vaughan L  Vögtlin A  Zimmermann DR  Spiess B  Pospischil A 《American journal of veterinary research》2003,64(11):1421-1428

OBJECTIVE: To detect and characterize the full range of chlamydial infections in cats with ocular disease by use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, cytologic examination, immunohistochemical analysis, and evaluation of clinical information including status for feline herpesvirus-1 (FeHV-1). SAMPLE POPULATION: DNA extracted from 226 conjunctival samples obtained from cats with clinically diagnosed keratitis or conjunctivitis and 30 conjunctival samples from healthy cats. PROCEDURE: PCR assays for the 16S rRNA gene specific for the order Chlamydiales and a new Chlamydophila felis (formerly Chlamydia psittaci) species-specific 23S rRNA gene were performed. Seventy-four conjunctival samples were prepared with Romanowsky-type stain, grouped on the basis of inflammatory pattern, and screened for chlamydial inclusions by use of immunohistochemical analysis. Clinical information and FeHV-1 status were recorded. RESULTS: 26 (12%) specimens had positive results for the only known feline chlamydial pathogen, C felis. Surprisingly, an additional 88 (39%) were positive for non-C felis chlamydial DNA. Identification of non-C felis chlamydial DNA by direct sequencing revealed 16S rRNA gene sequences that were 99% homologous to the sequence for Neochlamydia hartmannellae, an amebic endosymbiont. Chlamydial prevalence was significantly higher in cats with ocular disease. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Application of a broad-range detection method resulted in identification of a new agent associated with ocular disease in cats. Finding chlamydia-like agents such as N hartmannellae in coinfections with their obligate amebic host, Hartmannella vermiformis, raises questions about the potential role of these microorganisms in causation or exacerbation of ocular disease in cats.  相似文献   

Behavioral training and hydraulic chute restraint enables handling of eland antelope (Taurotragus oryx) without general anesthesia.     

Gemechu Wirtu  Alexander Cole  C Earle Pope  Charles R Short  Robert A Godke  Betsy L Dresser 《Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine》2005,36(1):1-11

Difficulties and risks associated with restraining large nondomestic ungulates are limiting factors toward developing and applying assisted reproductive technologies, such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer. In this study on 10 female eland (Taurotragus oryx), we evaluated the use of behavioral training and handling handling in a hydraulic chute to perform transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval and other clinical procedures. Nine females were conditioned to associate specific sound cues with food treats. The interval from the audio cue until acceptance of handheld treats varied among females (1.8-58.3 min). Animals also differed in their response to training for voluntary entry into the chute. Handling eland for oocyte retrieval in the hydraulic chute required xylazine sedation. During sedation and handling, eland undergoing oocyte retrieval procedures had higher blood glucose levels (14.4 +/- 3.1) than females handled similarly but without oocyte retrieval (9.3 +/- 2.7 mmol/L). Plasma osmotic pressure, hematocrit, and creatine phosphokinase activity were similar between these two groups. Females that were more difficult to train had higher blood glucose levels than the more cooperative animals. Cooperative females had fewer vertical stripes on their sides. More than 40 procedures were conducted without complications or mortality. The combination of behavioral conditioning-training and restraint of sedated eland in a hydraulic chute was a reliable and repeatable method for performing minimally invasive assisted reproductive techniques.  相似文献   

PCR as a diagnostic tool for brucellosis   总被引：11，自引：0，他引：11  

Bricker BJ 《Veterinary microbiology》2002,90(1-4):435-446

Numerous PCR-based assays have been developed for the identification of Brucella to improve diagnostic capabilities. Collectively, the repertoire of assays addresses several aspects of the diagnostic process. For some purposes, the simple identification of Brucella is adequate (e.g. diagnosis of human brucellosis or contamination of food products). In these cases, a genus-specific PCR assay is sufficient. Genus-specific assays tend to be simple, robust, and somewhat permissive of environmental influences. The main genetic targets utilized for these applications are the Brucella BCSP31 gene and the 16S–23S rRNA operon.

Other instances require identification of the Brucella species involved. For example, most government-sponsored brucellosis eradication programs include regulations that stipulate a species-specific response. For epidemiological trace back, strain-specific identification is helpful. Typically, differential PCR-based assays tend to be more complex and consequently more difficult to perform. Several strategies have been explored to differentiate among Brucella species and strains, including locus specific multiplexing (e.g. AMOS-PCR based on IS711), PCR-RFLP (e.g. the omp2 locus), arbitrary-primed PCR, and ERIC-PCR to name a few. This paper reviews some of the major advancements in molecular diagnostics for Brucella including the development of procedures designed for the direct analysis of a variety of clinical samples. While the progress to date is impressive, there is still room for improvement.  相似文献   

Diagnostic strategies used for the identification of Brucella     

Bricker BJ 《Veterinary microbiology》2002,90(1-4):433-434

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Potential for exploiting plant genes to genetically engineer insect resistance,exemplified by the cowpea trypsin inhibitor gene     

Vaughan A. Hilder  Angharad M. R. Gatehouse  Donald Boulter 《Pest management science》1989,27(2):165-171

Over the 400 million or so years of their co-evolution, plants have evolved some highly effective strategies to combat herbivorous insects. Amongst these natural defence mechanisms are some which depend on a primary gene product for effect. These are currently suitable for producing insect-resistant, transgenic crop plants by genetic engineering. One such mechanism involves the protease inhibitors from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), which are anti-metabolic to a wide range of insects. Cowpea trypsin inhibitor (CpTI) genes have been cloned and transferred to tobacco plants. Those transgenic tobacco plants which express physiological levels of CpTI have enhanced resistance to a wide range of insect pests. The insecticidal characteristics of these plants compare favourably with those of transgenic plants expressing the B. thuringiensis endotoxin gene. Some possible advantages of, and prospects for, using plant-derived ‘insect-resistance’ genes in this way are discussed.  相似文献   

Predicting epidemics of yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis) on the upper canopy of wheat from disease observations on lower leaves     

C. S. Young †  N. D. Paveley  T. B. Vaughan  J. M. Thomas  K. D. Lockley 《Plant pathology》2003,52(3):338-349

Data from field experiments were used to test whether disease observations on lower leaves of wheat were good predictors of future epidemic development in the upper canopy. Fungicide treatments to replicated plots in 1994 and 1995 caused variation in levels of initial inoculum of urediniospores of yellow rust ( Puccinia striiformis ). Observations of symptom severity were made on individual leaf layers throughout the season. Sporulating lesions on lower leaves were considered to be a measure of inoculum source strength for transfer to upper culm leaves. Low source strengths were associated with delays in epidemic development on the upper leaves, as quantified by a location parameter, t _m, the time at which severity reached half of the asymptote value in logistic fits to disease progress data on the upper leaves. However, there was much unexplained variation, probably due to extraneous variation in upward transfer efficiency of inoculum and rates of epidemic development. Vanderplank's sanitation ratio theory was used to account for variation in inoculum transfer and epidemic rate. The analysis revealed that if the aim is to predict disease on a newly emerged culm leaf, during the period when it can be treated effectively with fungicide, then observations of disease two leaves further down the culm were of the greatest predictive value ( R ² = 86%). These observations, however, need to be integrated with information about factors affecting upward inoculum transfer and rates of epidemic development if acceptable predictive precision is to be achieved.  相似文献   

Breeding soundness evaluation of bulls by semen analysis,testicular fine needle aspiration cytology and trans-scrotal ultrasonography     

Chapwanya A  Callanan J  Larkin H  Keenan L  Vaughan L 《Irish veterinary journal》2008,61(5):315-318

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of trans-scrotal ultrasonography and testicular fine needle aspiration cytology in assessing bulls for breeding suitability. These two techniques were also compared with semen analysis. Bulls presented for breeding soundness evaluation were assessed using all three techniques. The findings of each technique were compared. There was agreement in classification of fertile bulls using all three techniques, suggesting that the combined use of these techniques enhances routine breeding soundness examination. Use of the three techniques also enhances detailed investigation of suspected sub-fertile bulls while accurately identifying testicular cause(s) of sire sub-fertility.  相似文献   

Efficacy of a starch-iodide swab technique to detect the illegal use of bleach in a Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) fishery     

David T. Wilson  Duncan Vaughan  Shaun K. Wilson  Carrie N. Simon  Kathy Lockhart 《Fisheries Research》2008,90(1-3):86-91

The destructive and illegal practice of using chemicals (bleach, dishwashing liquid, gasoline) to catch spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) is thought to be common throughout much of the Bahamian Archipelago. Injection of a chemical irritant into a lobster den will result in either a rapid escape response or a subduing effect, both of which make it easier to capture spiny lobster. We used both laboratory and field trials to determine the efficacy of a starch-iodide swab technique to identify lobsters that had been exposed to bleach solution (NaOCl). All lobsters exposed to bleach tested positive immediately following exposure and for varying periods thereafter. No false positives were detected on control lobsters. The average length of time that bleach remained detectable on the exoskeleton was 6.2 and 9.6 h in the laboratory and field, respectively, with some individuals testing positive 12 h after exposure. The swab technique will provide fishery officers with a powerful tool to reduce or eliminate the illegal use of bleach for harvesting spiny lobster.  相似文献   

INMUNITY AND CURE IN THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES     

Vaughan VU 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》1893,22(560):231-233

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THE PHYSICAL BASIS OF LIFE     

Vaughan VC 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》1909,29(751):799-805

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